Michel Boisrond Movies

A stolen letter creates all sorts of trouble for the president of France in this political comedy. The letter is hidden inside the purse of a woman who was once lovers with the leader. Their union resulted in a son, but the president is unaware of this until she, who moved to the US to have her son, finally contacts him 10 years later. Naturally this creates problems for him as he is in a terrible marriage with a woman who doesn't love him, but still he is delighted and so takes the woman and his son to his palace in Versaille where they are hidden. Meanwhile the police begin looking for the troublesome letter. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide

Happy chauvinists that they are, it comes as a complete surprise to the three men of this story when their wives, egged on by the more feminist of the three, leave them. They are appalled to discover that the women seem quite happy without them. After a number of unsuccessful attempts to find feminine consolation elsewhere, one by one the piggy men mend their ways and reconcile with their spouses. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

This French farce/drama takes place in Ireland in 1916, during one of the peak periods of revolutionary violence. Seven Irish revolutionaries have taken over a post office, totally evacuating the building. Or so they think. They missed Gertie Gertel, who was in the bathroom at the time. By the time she is discovered, they are sufficiently besieged that for her own safety, she must stay with them. Gertie, it turns out, is about as pro-British as it is possible to be, and the seven take it on themselves, in the midst of battles and gunfights, to win her over to their cause. While they are at it, they set out to woo her, as well. ~ Clarke Fountain, All Movie Guide

A 19-year-old college student from an upper-middle-class family has an affair with the 25-year-old mistress of a famous driver who competes in international horse races. He is treated like a kid by the woman until they come together at a winter resort and begin an amorous affair. When the driver comes home, the student gives up the woman in a noble gesture of maturity and respect for the love he has received from her in this bittersweet romantic film. ~ Dan Pavlides, All Movie Guide

Long considered a classic of European film noir, this existential gangster drama from French director Jean-Pierre Melville was released in the United States only in a severely truncated, re-edited, and overdubbed version entitled The Godson. Thirty years after its initial public airing, Le Samourai (1967) finally saw a limited American release in its intended form. Alain Delon stars as Jef Costello, a professional Parisian assassin-for-hire who, by nature of his work's solitary demands, has no friends. Although he is loved by Jane Lagrange (Natalie Delon, the star's real-life wife), Costello knows that Jane already has a lover. After he successfully wipes out a nightclub owner at the behest of his boss, Costello discovers that he was seen by the club's pianist, Valerie (Cathy Rosier). Although he survives a police lineup thanks to a lie offered up by the fearless Valerie, Costello's alibi disintegrates rapidly and his shadowy employer takes out a contract on him. As he seeks revenge on his betrayer, Costello must also stay one step ahead of a wily, determined superintendent (Francois Perier). Melville's film influenced several other filmmakers and projects, most notably director John Woo's The Killer (1989). ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide

When a young man is urged by his self-centered girlfriend to steal a jewel, he barely pulls off the stunt, hiding it in a guitar as he is being pursued. Before long, however, he has a change of heart and decides to dump the girl and return the gem. Now he must find the right guitar -- which may be in the possession of any of five performers. Franck Fernandel, son of popular French comedian Fernandel, stars with Dany Saval, Berth Grandval and Dominique Boschero -- featuring performances by musical talents Charles Aznavour, Nancy Holloway, Johnny Hallyday, Sylvie Vartan and Frank Alamo. ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide

When a girl falls for her younger brother's teacher, she attempts to capture his attention. She finds that a little male competition may be necessary in getting what she wants. This is a lesser-known romantic comedy from director Michel Boisrond -- the man partially responsible for the success of Brigit Bardot (Voulez-Vous Danser Avec Moi?, Une Parisienne and Cette Sacree Gamine ). ~ Kristie Hassen, All Movie Guide

This routine sex comedy by director Michel Boisrond stars Jean Poiret as Bernard, a young, up-and-coming publisher who has inexplicably fallen in love with Sophie (Dany Saval) a woman working with a 25-watt bulb, when it is turned on at all. Sophie is as well-grounded as daisy fluff and just as serious, yet Bernard goes after her with all the determination of a man blinded by love. After a wild and crazy courtship, the couple marry, but Sophie's personality does not change and she gets him into trouble -- to the point where he almost loses his job. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Four different vignettes are featured in this routine anthology of love stories supposedly based on historical truths. In the first tale, King Louis XIV has just acquired a new mistress, but a dashing swashbuckler by the name of Lauzan (Jean-Paul Belmondo) tricks him out of this new conquest. The second story, a melodrama, is set in the 19th century and involves an older woman (Simone Signoret) in conflict with a lover who wants to leave her. The third segment is set in the Middle Ages, when the winsome daughter (Brigitte Bardot) of a lowly barber is the target of the local Prince's affections. She is also the target of some others who charge her with witchcraft. In the last story which takes place in the 19th century, two French actresses do battle over a coveted role and an equally coveted Baron. Other top names in French cinema complete the cast: Alain Delon, Jean-Claude Brialy, and Annie Girardot. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

Three Murderesses stars Alain Delon as a French playboy who gets more than he bargained for when he begins romancing three women at once. All three ladies (Mylene Demongeot, Pascale Petit and Jacqueline Sassard) are sisters, of wildly divergent personalities. Eventually all three tire of Delon toying with their emotions and plot a wry revenge. Director Michel Boisrone can't completely avoid the healthy vulgarity that is his trademark, but Three Murderesses strives to please without unduly offending. Released in France in 1957 as Faibles Femmes, Three Murderesses was initially distributed in the US under the title Women are Weak. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

This slight comedy-mystery is another late '50s vehicle for Brigitte Bardot who repeats her sex-kitten persona with ease. She plays Virginie, an instructor at a dance studio that one day is hit with a tragedy -- the owner of the studio is murdered. That is bad enough, but to make matters worse, Virginie's husband has been accused of the crime. She knows he could not be the killer and so she sets out to prove his innocence to the police, and maybe find the real culprit at the same time. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide

The title of this French sex farce translates to That Darn Kid. The "kid" in question is nymphet Brigitte Bardot, here cast as a wide-eyed innocent. While her father hides out from the police, Bardot is protected by nightclub singer Jean Bretonniere. The two eventually fall in love, but a series of humorous complications keep them apart. Brigitte Bardot is quite convincing as the breathless (and sometimes clueless) heroine, while Mischa Auer provides a few laughs as an overly demonstrative ballet teacher (not unlike his character in You Can't Take it With You). The plot of Cette Sacree Gamine was later reworked for the 1965 Elvis Presley vehicle Girl Happy. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Lorsque L'Enfant Parait (When the Child Appears) was adapted from the hit play by Andre Roussin. The story revolves around the efforts of a well-meaning, highly moralistic minister who wants the government to clamp down on illegitimacy. Complications ensue when the minister's own wife become pregnant -- and all evidence indicates that the child is not his. Adding to the protagonist's headaches, his daughter, on the eve of her wedding to a wealthy young man, announces that she, too, may well be in the family way. Not to be left out, the minister's son declares that he thinks he's impregnated his father's secretary! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide